Marriage (Who Can Perform the Ceremony)

MARRIAGE (WHO CAN PERFORM THE CEREMONY)

A marriage may be performed by a judge (or retired judge), commissioner of civil marriages (or retired commissioner of civil marriages), commissioner (or retired commissioner), assistant commissioner of a court of record, or justice of the peace in this state, any judge or magistrate of the United States, or by any priest, minister, rabbi of any religious denomination who is 18 years of age or over. A judge or magistrate who has resigned may also perform marriage ceremonies.

The County Clerk of any county is designated as a commissioner of civil marriages. The commissioner of civil marriages may appoint a deputy commissioner of civil marriages who may perform marriages under the direction of the commissioner of civil marriages (California Family Code, Section 400-402).

A private citizen may perform a wedding ceremony, however, you must contact the County Clerk of the county in which the ceremony is to be performed for specific information. Consumers should consult the Government listings of their White Pages to find contact information for county government offices.